Julia Girmenia

By Julia Girmenia

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Life doesn’t end with a diagnosis. Yeah, I have stage four metastatic breast cancer, but I still get up every morning and enjoy my life. I still go out with friends, spend time with my family and enjoy all-you-can-eat sushi.

Being part of the Love, Scarborough campaign means everything to me because it’s a chance to show that even with stage four breast cancer, life is so full.

Scarborough is my home, and I’m at the hospital every three weeks for treatment. From my very first biopsy, the team at SHN has made this whole journey so much easier. The nurses at Centenary were right there with kindness and support, and every MRI and bone scan at Birchmount was made better by staff who cheered me on. If I ever had a low moment, they were always there to lift me up, and I’m forever grateful to each one of them. The nurses, the welcome desk staff, the receptionists, my oncologist—everyone does all they can to make my visits comfortable, even finding ways to make me laugh during infusions. There was even one time I went to the wrong hospital, and they managed to squeeze me in for an appointment. I feel so proud to say I get my treatment at SHN because their care is unmatched, and it’s been a true support every step of the way.

Being diagnosed with stage four breast cancer has shown me firsthand what Scarborough Grit truly means. It’s about resilience—getting back up and fighting each day, no matter what. We’re a resilient community—working hard, taking care of our families, and doing what needs to be done. That’s why I’m part of this campaign: to represent Scarborough with pride and show that our community and our hospital deserve every bit of support they can get. In Scarborough, we’re all about making the best of life, and that’s exactly what this campaign is for me: living fully, fighting daily, and showing up with pride for this amazing community.

And as anyone from here knows, when you meet someone from Scarborough, there’s an instant connection, a kind of unspoken understanding. You can be anywhere in the city, and if you run into someone from Scarborough, it’s like finding family. We just get each other; there’s a different vibe that makes Scarborough truly feel like home.

Julia Girmenia is one of the 10 new faces of our Love, Scarborough campaign.